2001 Kia SEPHIA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
107 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
26,872 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 30 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 107 complaints (14.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 18 | 16.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 12.1% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 8.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 5.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 4.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 1.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 15 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 14 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 8 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 15; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 14; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 8; Electrical System: 5; Electrical System:Ignition: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 5; Structure:Body:Door: 5; Air Bags: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 77 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 16 |
| 2002 | 32 |
| 2003 | 25 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2000: 2; 2001: 16; 2002: 32; 2003: 25; 2004: 11; 2005: 6; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 4; 2012: 1; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001436 · 2002-12-23 (December 23, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES WHEN HAD A ACCIDENT THE REAR SEAT SHOULDER STRAPS DID NOT LOCK CAUSING INJURIES. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001436 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002019 · 2003-01-03 (January 3, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ON WET PAVEMENT AND WITHOUT WARNING THE REAR END WOULD WONDER CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002019 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004258 · 2003-01-21 (January 21, 2003)
THE VEHICLE BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, BUT THEIR FOOT HIT THE GAS PEDAL ALSO, WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. PH
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004258 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004493 · 2003-01-23 (January 23, 2003)
THE FLEXLINE SUPPLYING THE BRAKE FLUID TO THE LEFT REAR WHEEL HAD BEEN RUBBING AGAINST A RETAINER RING AND CAUSED ALL THE FLUID TO LEAK, RESULTING IN AN INOPERATIVE BRAKE PEDAL. TS SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004493 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004785 · 2003-01-28 (January 28, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT WARNING MAKING IT HARD TO CONTROL VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004785 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005209 · 2003-02-03 (February 3, 2003)
VECHICAL AT IDLE WENT INTO HIGH RPM AND LOSS OF BRAKES AND LASTED ABOUT 30 TO 45 SECONDS
Owner-reported narrative. 18,008 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005209 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008340 · 2003-03-02 (March 2, 2003)
MASTER CYLINDER, WENT OUT THE SECOND TIME. I HAD MY CAR IN THE DEALERS SHOP ON DECEMBER 31, 2002. MY MASTER CYLINDER WENT OUT AT 13157 MILES, AND THE MASTER CYLINDER WENT OUT AGAIN AT 14252 MILES (3/1/03). THE CAR WILL BE 2 YEARS OLD IN APRIL. I AM VERY SCARED TO GET BACK IN THE CAR THIS TIME, I AM LOOKING INTO PURCHASING A NEW CAR. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE AND UNPREDICTABLE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 14,252 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008340 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010664 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)
OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS, THREE (3) LUG NUTS HAVE MYSTERIOUSLY BROKEN ON THE VEHICLE, TWO (2) ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL AND ONE (1) ON THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO WILSON POWELL DARCAR DEALER IN MARLOW HEIGHTS, MARYLAND, WHERE NEW LUGS WERE INSTALLED. TWO DAYS LATER, THE NEW LUG THAT WAS INSTALLED BROKE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010664 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.